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Luxury of Sunday shopping

TOURISTS flocking to the French capital will now be able to shop at luxury shops that line the Champs Elysees and the Place Vendome on Sundays as a key reform comes into effect.

An agreement between luxury shops and employee unions on Sunday hours has come into force, said Sylvie Zawadzki, who heads up tax and social issues at the French Fashion Federation.


The deal allows shops to take advantage of a reform pushed through by economy minister Emmanuel Macron last year allowing for shops to open on Sundays in newly created international tourist zones in Paris. Sunday openings for shops in France is severely restricted.

“It is an agreement that provides companies the possibility to open (on Sundays), but it is a decision they take based on their commercial strategy,” said Zawadzki.

The flagship shops of luxury brands such as Chanel, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton are covered by the deal.

Zawadzki declined to say how many companies are affect- ed, but according to the business daily Les Echos some 30 brands and nearly 100 shops could now open.

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Northern Lights hunting in Rovaniemi: A night out with Beyond Arctic

Northern Lights are best served by travelling between February and early March

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Northern Lights hunting in Rovaniemi: A night out with Beyond Arctic

Highlights

  • Best viewing window for the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi is February to early March
  • Beyond Arctic leads small-group tours focused on real-time tracking and low light pollution
  • Six viewing spots visited in one night with expert guidance
  • Tour includes warm gear checks, snacks, bonfire and next-day edited photos

A guided search for the Arctic sky

Visiting Rovaniemi is possible throughout the year, but those hoping to see the Northern Lights are best served by travelling between February and early March. Clear skies, strong solar activity and long winter nights create the most reliable conditions, though the extreme cold requires proper preparation. This is where operators such as Beyond Arctic make a noticeable difference.

At around 7 pm, we were collected from the town centre in a van and met our guide, Ryan, whose attention to detail shaped the entire evening. He made sure each of us had the correct boots before we set off, emphasising the importance of staying warm during hours spent outdoors. His preparations continued on the road, where he juggled between several forecasting apps to track cloud cover, weather patterns and aurora activity.

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